Bengals’ weekly awards from 34-11 win over Lions

The win against the Lions was just what the doctor ordered for the Cincinnati Bengals. In sports, there are few things like bouncing back from a tough loss with a decisive win.

Here are the nominees for the Bengals’ Week 6 awards in their 34-11 win over the Lions. Cast your vote and sound off on your winners!

Most Valuable Player

Joe Burrow

The franchise quarterback threw multiple touchdowns for the sixth time in as many games this year, and was an integral part to the blowout win. He finished 19-of-29 for 271 yards and three touchdowns, along with an interception. He also had 20 yards rushing on five attempts.

Joe Mixon

This week was a nice showcase of offensive balance, thanks to Mixon. Even with his big plays on the ground, he was also a factor in the run game. Mixon had 153 yards from scrimmage (94 rushing, 59 receiving) and a touchdown through the air.

Trey Hendrickson

The team’s big free agent acquisition this year has lived up to expectations. Going up against Penei Sewell most of the game, Hendrickson forced the rookie to give up three penalties. He also had a sack when Detroit made the poor decision to block him with T.J. Hockenson.

Chidobe Awuzie

While Hendrickson was the team’s big-ticket free agent, one could make the argument that Awuzie has been its best overall acquisition. He had five total tackles and a pass defended on a day where Cincinnati’s defense totally clamped down on the Lions’ offense.

Logan Wilson

It was a rough day for the linebacker corps last week against Green Bay, but they bounced back nicely against Detroit. Wilson was a big part of that rebound, notching six total tackles (two of which were for losses) and an interception.

Unsung Hero of the Week

C.J. Uzomah

The team’s tight end had just 15 yards on three catches, but one of those proved to be a demoralizing touchdown for the Lions. He’s down the pecking order, in terms of doled out passing targets, but steps up when needed.

Chris Evans

Mixon had the big plays and more yards from scrimmage, but Evans was a triple-threat on offense. He caught a touchdown pass, provided 4.5 yards per rush and stepped up in pass protection. Evans had 67 yards from scrimmage and the score on the first drive.

Jackson Carman

It’s been an up-and-down rookie year from Carman, which included the sights from Sunday. He was questionable to play this week after landing on the COVID-19 list, but then came in when Trey Hill struggled in the start.

Then, Carman was seen to be physically ill on the field. Regardless, Carman received a quality Pro Football Focus grade of 87.2 in the contest, as the Bengals racked up close to 400 total yards on offense.

Evan McPherson

The rookie kicker struggled against the Packers, but rebounded well against the Lions. He accounted for 10 points—two field goals and four extra points. He didn’t have any misses on Sunday and will go toe-to-toe with the best kicker in the league next week in Justin Tucker.

Vonn Bell

The team’s physical safety had some struggles last week versus the Packers, but was another defensive player who showed up well this week. He led the team with seven total tackles and had a pass defended. He was a crucial part in the team’s allowance of just 228 yards of offense from the Lions.

Play of the Game

Chris Evans’ 24-yard touchdown reception

The Bengals hadn’t scored a point on their first five opening drives of 2021, but that changed against Detroit. On 3rd-and-5, Zac Taylor and Brian Callahan dialed up a beautifully-designed play with Joe Burrow operating out of an empty set.

Evans put a move on the linebacker in coverage and Burrow floated a ball towards the pylon. Evans snagged it at the last second for the team’s first big score.

Logan Wilson’s first quarter interception

Burrow had a pass intercepted when Chase had a ball go off of his hands early in the contest. The Bengals’ defense was put in a bad spot, as the Lions started the drive at Cincinnati’s 38-yard line.

Things were looking tenuous when Jared Goff floated a pass across the middle that appeared to have been completed. Instead, Vonn Bell ripped the ball out and it floated into Wilson’s waiting arms.

Ja’Marr Chase’s 34-yard reception before halftime

Cincinnati’s offense sputtered in the first half after the Evans touchdown. Needing a spark to get those trademark points before halftime, Cincinnati dialed up Chase’s number for a deep ball.

He corralled it next to the sideline, showing both good footwork by the receiver and excellent ball placement by Burrow. It set up a field goal before half that prompted the avalanche on the Lions.

Joe Mixon’s 40-yard touchdown reception

Cincinnati looked to get more points right out of the gate in the second half, but things looked to have stalled out with a 4th-and-inches situation at the Lions’ 40-yard line. The Bengals went for it and the staff dialed up a beautiful play call.

Not only did Burrow and Mixon execute it to perfection, but it included a walloping block from Chase to help spring the running back into the end zone. This was the back-breaking play of the contest.

(Editor’s disclaimer: video below has NSFW language, but is ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS.)

Ja’Marr Chase’s 53-yard reception

Cincinnati had started to grab control of the game as the fourth quarter approached, but they wanted to prepare the final nails for the Lions’ Week 6 coffin. Burrow sailed a beauty of a throw deep down the middle of the field where Chase had beaten his defender. It led to a touchdown.

C.J. Uzomah’s two-yard touchdown reception

Nothing super flashy about this play, just great execution and a nice grab by No. 87. He tumbled a bit to make the catch off of the Burrow play-action and then prompted a viral video with the celebration.

Auden Tate’s seven-yard touchdown reception

Though it was late and during a time when the game was in control, it still was a very nice play. Tate brought the Bengals’ offense deep into the red zone by forcing an interference penalty and then took it into the end zone from there.